Adjustable jigsaw puzzle frame



May 2, 1950 R. B. ATTRIDGE ADJUSTABLE JIGSAW PUZZLE FRAME Filed May 51,1946 FIG, 2.

Rule/4E0 5.577%005 //vvENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE JIGSAW PUZZLE FRAME Richard B. Attridge, LosAngeles, Calif. Application May 31, 1946, Serial N0. 673,531

' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an adjustable jig saw puzzle frame and supporttherefor; 7

Solving of jig saw puzzles affords a wholesome pastime for invalids andconvalescents, for example, for disabled veterans.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved frame structurefor. jig saw puzzles wherein the frame which contains the assembly ofcut-out fragments may be varied. in size as to height and/or length, toaccord. with the size of the assembly of cut-out fragments to becontained therein.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete device showing a partlyassembled group of jig saw puzzle fragments contained in the frameprovided for them, this view being on a smaller scale than the remainingviews.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a corner portion of the frame which containsthe assembled puzzle fragments.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the long frame extension pieces.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the short frame extension pieces.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of a panel hinge typical of all the hinges ofthe device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a leaf spring clip to hold the easelportion of the support adjusted to the desired inclination.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a rectangular, sectional jig sawpuzzle frame 1 is shown made of cardboard or of denser, more substantialstrap-like material. The assembled frame 1 of Fig. 1 comprises fouridentically shaped, right angular corner strips 8, the two limbs of eachof these strips being of equal length, but differing in that one of themterminates in a male dovetail 9 and the other in a female dovetail [0.In order to provide the frame 1 of Fig. 1 with a longer horizontal thenvertical dimension a short upper insert strip H and like lower insertstrap l2 are provided, these insert strips having dovetail endformations mating with the end portions of the corner strips 8 withwhich they cooperate to complete the frame 1. But if it is desired touse a square frame instead of the elongated frame I, said strips H andI2 may be removed and the adjacent limb ends of the angular strips 8directly dovetailed together.

In Fig. 3 is shown a longer fill-in strip l4 having at one end a maledovetail I 5 and at its opposite end a female dovetail I 6, it beingunderstood that at least two strips of this size and shape will beprovided, so that, when it is desired to lengthen the frame I, one ofthem may be substituted for the strip l l and the other of them for thestrip l2. The frame I may be left with the same horizontal dimension andits height increased by inserting the strips M at the junctures 841 atthe right and left side of the frame of the upwardly and downwardlyextending limbs of the angular corner strips 8. Still other combinationsof the fill-in strips ll, l2 and M with, the frame 1 are possible, butare not deemed to require a detailed description. It is evident that thesize required for the frame to contain the assembled cut-outs l8 will bede pendent upon the number and size of the cutouts used to construct theentire assembly of fitted together cut-outs.

The frame I is shown supported upon an easel plate 20 havinga foot boardor supporting ledge plate 2|. Said easel or work plate 20 has its upperedge hingedly connected at 22 to the upper edge of the back orstabilizer plate 23, the latter plate having its lower edge hinged at 24to the rear edge of the base plate or lap board 25. In order toadjustably maintain the easel plate 20 at the desired inclination saidplate has hinged to its lower edge a backwardly directed foot flap 26,and a clamp spring 21 is provided for application to each end portion ofsaid flap 26 to clamp it down against the upper surface of the lap board25, as shown in Fig. I. Said spring 21 desirably consists of a strap ofresilient sheet metal bent down upon itself at its midlength, exceptthat a rounded part 28 is preferably provided at the bend.

The hinge structure detailed in Fig. 5 is typical of the (all alike)hinge structures at the top and bottom of the easel plate 20 and at theback side of the device as shown in Fig. 1. In said typical structuretwo plate fragments A and B are shown exteriorly hinged together by anouter strip of tape 30 which is adhered to the edge surfaces of saidplates and also a strip of the adjacent outer side portion of eachplate. Also a tape strip 3| is pasted interiorly along the marginalportions of the closely approximated strips A and B, as shown.

Preparatory to working out the puzzle the user will set up the easelplate 20 at the preferred inclination and will then apply the clampingsprings 27 to the end portions of the foot flap 26 as illustrated inFig. 1 at one side of the device. Thereupon he will position two of theangle strips 8 upon the foot-piece 2! in an overlying relation to theeasel plate with the ends of their lower limbs somewhat spaced apartpreparatory to inserting between them the short extension strip l2. Thenhe will dovetail into place, in relation to the already mounted strips8, the two upper corner angle strips 8 and these strips will maintainthemselves with their horizontal limbs spaced apart about the rightdistance for having inserted between them the upper short strip H, whichwill complete the jig saw puzzle frame I. It will be obvious from theforegoing description how a frame having greater vertical or right toleft dimensions may be provided by substituting the longer strips Mforthe shorter ones H and H2; or by inserting an additional strip into thejoint 8a at each (right or left) side of the frame.

The user may next proceed to select from the group of jig saw cut-outsused pieces having angular corner portions fittable into the lowercorners ofthe frame I, or he may start with pieces having straight sideportions and try placing their straight sides on the lower internal edgeof the frame. After completing bottom and side borders of the assembledpuzzle he will work on from the bottom up tov complete the assembly.

It will be found more natural and restful to assemble a picture puzzlein such a way as to form the picture in an upright position, as anartist would in painting it, by drawing out from the supply of cut-outsone piece after another until the picture-forming assembly has beenconstructed, an effort being made to work from below upwards.

When the jig saw puzzle support is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 there isan apron forward of the work panel on which the invalid can selectand/or compose certain of the jig saw pieces anticipatory to assemblingthem in their proper relation in the frame. Owing to the fact that eachof the frame pieces has a male dovetail at one end and a female dovetailat its opposite end, all the parts are interchangeable and the variousparts are assemblable no matter how they are arranged, provided theframe is equally lengthened or shortened at opposite sides. Thus theframe 1 provides for supporting the jig saw pieces whether or not thecenter pieces are filled in as the puzzle is built upwardly or laterafter the outer pieces are grouped as shown in Fig. 1.

Furthermore, a one-armed veteran, or other person so handicapped as tohave but one useful hand, can readily assemble the cardboard sections ofthe frame simply by laying one section after another upon a fiatsurface, matching the tongues with the grooves as he does so.

I claim:

In a frame within which jig saw puzzles are to be assembled, a pluralityof right angular corner strips, a plurality of straight intermediatestrips, said angular and straight strips comprising fiat stifi membershaving parallel faces and straight inner and outer side edges, one endedge of each of said strips having straight end lengths extendingtransversely of the strip and an intermediate tenon of dovetail contourprojecting outwardly of said end edge, the opposite end edge of eachstrip having straight end lengths extending transversely of the stripand provided with a center recess of dove tail shape slidably receivingtherein the dove tail tenon of an adjacent strip so as to provide aframe assembly the size of which can be selectively adjusted to definean inner rectangular opening for receiving therein the component partsof varying jig saw puzzles of rectangular exterior contour.

RICHARD B. ATTRIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 15, 1934

